Bank said check cleared

[melcarter7]

What is the name of your state?Maine
I deposited a check written for $2000 into my account. I was unsure as to whether the check would clear or not so when I went back in to my bank to ask if it did, I specifically asked if it 'cleared,' knowing that cleared meant that the check was good. The teller very clearly said that it had cleared. I took the $2000 out that day. To my surprise about 3 days later my account was negative $1700. When I went back to the bank to ask what happened they said the check didn't clear. The bank is now telling me they are not responsible for what the teller said. All I want is for them to take off all overdraft charges, recurring overdraft charges and excess overdraft returned item service charges due to the fact that I would not have taken the money out if I knew that the check hadn't cleared. Any advice would be great so that when I go back the bank they know they can't screw me over.

Thank you,
Melanie

[Who's Liable?]

wait a minute here... let me get this straight...

You went in to your bank with a 2K check... Deposited it and left... Than you decided to go back in the same day or a few minutes after you initally left and asked if the check you just deposited had "cleared", to which the teller said "yes"

After hearing that the check had "cleared" you withdrew the ENTIRE 2K... Than three days later you had a negative balance of $1700 due to NSF fees...

Is that correct?

If that IS correct, then you need your head examined... I'll let the rest make the point for me...

[racer72]

The check most likely cleared your bank's system but had not cleared the issuing bank.

[janedoe23]

Originally Posted by Who's Liable?

wait a minute here... let me get this straight...

You went in to your bank with a 2K check... Deposited it and left... Than you decided to go back in the same day or a few minutes after you initally left and asked if the check you just deposited had "cleared", to which the teller said "yes"

After hearing that the check had "cleared" you withdrew the ENTIRE 2K... Than three days later you had a negative balance of $1700 due to NSF fees...

Is that correct?

If that IS correct, then you need your head examined... I'll let the rest make the point for me...

Clearly, someone else needs to get their head examined because nowhere in the OP's post did it mention she deposited her check and withdrew it the same day.

[Veronica1228]

Originally Posted by melcarter7

What is the name of your state?Maine
I deposited a check written for $2000 into my account. I was unsure as to whether the check would clear or not so when I went back in to my bank to ask if it did, I specifically asked if it 'cleared,' knowing that cleared meant that the check was good. The teller very clearly said that it had cleared. I took the $2000 out that day. To my surprise about 3 days later my account was negative $1700. When I went back to the bank to ask what happened they said the check didn't clear. The bank is now telling me they are not responsible for what the teller said. All I want is for them to take off all overdraft charges, recurring overdraft charges and excess overdraft returned item service charges due to the fact that I would not have taken the money out if I knew that the check hadn't cleared. Any advice would be great so that when I go back the bank they know they can't screw me over.

Thank you,
Melanie

First of all, as everyone has stated a check does not "clear" the minute you deposit it into your account unless it is drawn off of the same bank as the BOFD. What you should have done is ask your bank to call the drawing bank to make sure that the check was good. This is not always foolproof because due to tighter restrictions on Bank Privacy, banks don't always give out this information.

Having said that, however, the teller did make an error in telling you that the check did clear if that is in fact what happened. This does not make the bank responsible for the check being returned though. What I would suggest is talking to the Branch Manager. If they are not willing to reverse fees for you then go up the chain of command to the District Manager and then the Regional Manager. Explain to them in a professional, calm manner that the teller gave you wrong information and you would like your fees reversed. This is your only hope for this.

By they way, if your account is still in the negative you can forget about having fees reversed right now. They are not even going to discuss it unless you bring your balance back up to a positive standing.

Good luck.

[Who's Liable?]

Originally Posted by janedoe23

Clearly, someone else needs to get their head examined because nowhere in the OP's post did it mention she deposited her check and withdrew it the same day.

Please re-read my inital post... You will notice that I asked clarification on whether or not the check was deposited and withdrawn the same day... Than you will see the part where I stated "If that IS correct"...

I never once stated for a fact that it was deposited and withdrawn on the same day...

Not only do you need your head examined, you need to study up on reading comprehension....